21 Top-Notch Restaurants in London for Al Fresco Dining

21 Top-Notch Restaurants in London for Al Fresco Dining

We’ve traversed London to bring you the city’s best restaurants for al fresco dining. From pop-up streetside affairs to rooftop terraces and Thames-side gardens, here’s where to feast in style this summer



Every
Lononder knows just how special the first scorching days
of summer are. Like those videos of cows jumping with glee as
they’re released into the field after a long winter packed indoors,
city dwellers are chomping at the bit to splash
their hard-earned cash in restaurants once more. With rumours of a
heatwave lurking around the corner (fingers and toes crossed), we
decided to go on a small but mighty adventure to bring you the 21
best restaurants in the capital for al fresco dining. Feast in style and kick back
with quirky cocktails while drinking in views across
London’s dazzling skyline at one of these delicious foodie joints
this summer.

Open-air terraces and Thames-side gardens: London’s best al
fresco restaurants

NORTH


restaurant

The Farrier

Camden Market

A fancy new pub arrived in North London last spring and, naturally, a banging
terrace was high on its priority list. The Farrier’s outdoor heated terrace and hidden courtyard get
top marks for a cosy fire pit, and an entire food and drink menu
dedicated to crowd-pleasing dishes designed to be enjoyed in the
great outdoors. Although the kitchen is headed up by a chef with
Michelin-star credentials (Ash Finch has worked under Marcus
Wareing and Alain Ducasse), there’s nothing stuffy about this
place: fish and chips with mushy peas is still firmly on the
menu.

Address

87-88 North Yard, Camden Market, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH


restaurant

Towpath Café

De Beauvoir

Everyone’s favourite neighbourhood haunt, this canalside spot
has been offering al fresco dining since way before it was
fashionable. Headed up by Lori De Mori, the daily changing menu –
chalked up on a blackboard – offers scrumptious toasties, salads
and fresh bakes. Tiny chairs and tables are crammed along the
hilariously nicknamed “Haggerston Riviera”, where you’ll jostle for
space with bearded hipsters and designer whippets. Good luck
finding a table, especially at weekends.

Address

42 De Beauvoir Cres, N1 5SB

EAST


restaurant

Rochelle Canteen

Shoreditch

After getting tired of telling people to check the weather
forecast before they come for lunch, Rochelle Canteen has added a
brilliant tented cover over its verdant outdoor terrace. Decorated
with seasonal flowers, it’s the place to enjoy simple and perfectly
executed dishes from Margot Henderson and her merry team of chefs.
Expect the likes of brown shrimp, white cabbage and chervil,
asparagus and butter, and a rhubarb fool to die for.

Address

16 Playground Gdns, E2 7FA


restaurant

SMOKESTAK

Shoreditch

This Shoreditch barbecue joint is something else. An
industrial-chic setting with ample outside space out front (perfect
for people-watching the local Brick Lane crowd) is the setting for
top-shelf cuts of wood-smoked meats, served up to a laid-back
creative clientele. Start with the cod’s roe and naan, before
making your way through such delights as lamb sausage, pulled pork,
charred pork-belly rib, beef brisket and dry-aged beef rib, all of
which arrive grilled to perfection on piled-high slabs. Word to the
wise: come in a big group so you can have a full-on feast and try
as much of the menu as possible. If you find yourself defeated,
friendly staff will happily pack leftovers up for you to take home.
Wash it all down with chilli margaritas and local craft beer. It’s
a 10 out of 10 from us.

Address

35 Sclater St, E1 6LB


restaurant

Brat at Climpson’s Arch

Shoreditch

Michelin-starred Brat restaurant is home to a
large covered terrace at Climpson’s Arch in east London. The daily menu showcases native seasonal
produce sourced from some of the best producers in the UK,
including Dan Cox’s Crocadon Farm in Cornwall and Calixta
Killander’s Cambridgeshire farm Flourish. Diners can expect fresh
dishes such as fried pork chops with anchovy and hay butter and
tomatoes with aged mutton and grilled cep mushrooms, alongside
sides of pickled peppers, aubergine escabeche and fermented golden
beets.

Address

374 Helmsley Pl, E8 3SB


restaurant

Smoking Goat

Shoreditch

The Smoking Goat has a 50-seater covered, heated outdoor space
in the Tea Building, on the corner of Redchurch Street and
Shoreditch High Street. Head chef Ben Curtis and his team are known
for their fiery Thai cooking, which lends itself to balmy summer
nights. Inspired by Bangkok’s late-night cuisine, the kitchen
places an emphasis on underrated, native seafood from Cornish
waters, serving up a mixture of skewers and smoky seafood options
from the open barbecues, as well as signature clay-pot noodles.

Address

64 Shoreditch High St, E1 6JJ


restaurant

Pophams

Hackney

The cult bakery turned Italian-learning restaurant in Hackney’s
London Fields is home to one of London’s largest heated outdoor
terraces. Diners can expect an innovative menu of handmade pasta
for lunch and dinner. You’ll also find outdoor seating at the
restaurant’s original Islington bakery, on Prebend Street. Frankly,
we’d sit in the pouring rain just to be able to eat one of the
incredible rhubarb and cardamom custard pastries.

Address

197 Richmond Road, E8 3NJ


restaurant

Barge East

Hackney Wick

Four summers ago, a group of friends somewhat sailed a
traditional Dutch barge from Holland to Hackney Wick and converted
her into a floating restaurant and bar. The riverside views across
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and seasonal British menu quickly
caught on, and the floating venue has become something of a
destination. The giant beer garden, which seats 300, is one of
the largest outdoor dining areas in east London. There’s also the
outdoor Street Kitchen – think buttermilk chicken, scotch eggs and
chickpea panisses – and bookable greenhouse booths. What’s not to
love?

Address

Whitepost Ln, E9 5EN

SOUTH


restaurant

Bermondsey Larder

Bermondsey

Brought to us by Robin and Sarah Gill (of The Dairy in Clapham
fame), the modern neighbourhood restaurant Bermondsey Larder is
every south Londoners favourite haunt for feasting. Highlights of
the menu, served on the terrace, include farmer Tom Jones’ lamb
with Jerusalem artichoke, pulled aubergine and mushroom flatbreads,
and a gorgeous split mackerel and sea-salad dish, perfect for
sharing.

Address

Bermond Lock, 153-157 Tower Bridge Rd, SE1 3LW


restaurant

Café Tamra

Northcote Road

A brother-and-sister-owned café in the heart of Nappy Valley,
this place turns out a really solid all-day brunch menu. Those
living in Clapham will already know and love the Mediterranean feel
of the recently pedestrianised high street, which Café Tamra’s
seating area spills out onto. New additions to the menu include
toasties, sarnies and French toast with bananas and Canadian maple syrup. It’s walk-in only, but worth the
wait.

Address

63 Northcote Rd, SW11 1NP


restaurant

Bar Douro

London Bridge

A little slice of Portugal near Borough Market, Bar Douro’s restaurant
and wine bar comprises a spacious outside terrace. There are
well-spaced port barrels to perch on for a drink and snack (grilled
octopus is a must), or rustic tables for more of a sit-down dinner
– with both areas being covered and heated. Don’t leave without a
box of pastéis de nata.

Address

Arch 35B, 85B Southwark Bridge Rd, SE1 0NQ

WEST


restaurant

Petersham Nurseries

Richmond

Possibly the world’s most aspirational garden centre, Petersham
Nurseries’ original Richmond flagship is an aesthetic pilgrimage
for all levels of green thumbs. The indoor-outdoor café operates
throughout the week, with evening service on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday. It’s set in a delightful courtyard, where you can dine al
fresco beneath a heated pergola draped with jasmine and
bougainvillaea. After sunset, candles are lit and diners enjoy an
accomplished spring menu under the stars.

Address

Off Church Ln, TW10 7AB


restaurant

Dinings SW3

Chelsea

Masaki Sugisaki’s Japanese restaurant in Chelsea has an idyllic
20-cover terrace loved by gourmands. Open daily from 12.30pm to
5.30pm, the full Dinings SW3 menu – bringing together traditional
Japanese techniques and European culinary
influences – is best enjoyed al fresco in the summer months. Savour
celebrated sushi and sashimi creations alongside Dinings SW3
signature dishes such as sea bass carpaccio, sumiyaki fruits de mer
(from the charcoal grill) and Cornish lobster sliders.

Address

Lennox Gardens Mews, SW3 2JH


restaurant

Abasto

Connaught Village

Forget people-watching: the Abasto terrace is a great spot for
poodle-watching, as all of west London heads towards Hyde Park for
weekend walkies. Even better, dog appreciation can be done over
handmade empanadas at mosaic streetside tables, or with sweet
alfajores, cup of coffee in hand. The Argentinian café and deli is
set in the heart of Connaught Village, a picturesque hub of quirky
boutiques, galleries and 19th-century architecture.

Address

55-57 Connaught St, St George’s Fields, W2 2BB

CENTRAL


restaurant

The Orrery

Marylebone

The Orrery in Marylebone Village holds one of London’s best-kept
secrets: a serene rooftop terrace serving elegant and traditional
French food in the heart of W1. Physically (and metaphorically)
elevated from the traffic and crowds of Marylebone, it’s a flower-lined sanctuary that’s kept
its culinary standards high. Come for a cocktail and be prepared to
stay all afternoon.

Address

55 Marylebone High St, W1U 5RB

A dish at Paradise, Soho
Image credit: Rebecca Dickson

restaurant

Paradise Soho

Soho

Describing its food offering as “ingredient focused cooking with
a fiery island accent”, Paradise’s new outdoor terrace is inspired
by the roadside eateries found in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. The terrace space seats
30, and is the place to come for a tempting menu of street-food
“short eats”. Think beetroot and banana blossom cutlet croquettes,
crab empanadas with lunumiris mayo, mutton-shoulder rolls with
fermented chilli, and northern spiced pork-belly skewers with
kithul molasses — all costing between £2 and £5. The drinks menu
includes a selection of natural, biodynamic wines and Sri
Lankan-inspired cocktails including a chilli-mezcal margarita,
ginger-arrack sour and coconut-washed negroni.

Address

61 Rupert St, W1D 7PW


restaurant

Sussex Bar & Restaurant

Soho

Sussex, the newest Soho restaurant venture from
the three Gladwin brothers, also serves as an outdoor oyster bar,
in partnership with Noilly Prat vermouth. Expect fresh Maldon
oysters, shucked to order, at a very acceptable price of £25 a
dozen. The ritual is to pour chilled Noilly Prat Original Dry over
the oyster, which is then either sipped from the shell or devoured
in one. For those of a less slippery persuasion, a selection of
small plates is also available. We recommend the asparagus dippers
with hollandaise and trout gravlax.

Address

63-64 Frith Street, W1D 3JW


restaurant

Circolo Popolare

Fitzrovia

All-singing, all-dancing Circolo Popolare is about as close to
Italy as it’s possible to get without jumping on a flight. The
utterly mad and fabulous Sicilian trattoria in Fitzrovia is famous for
its gigantic bowls of tagliatelle served from a wheel of parmesan
and wobbly, XXL lemon meringue pies. The terrace menu is a lot of
fun – carbonara pizza, anyone? – and beloved for its Sicilian
fritto-misto platters and decadent desserts.

Address

40-41 Rathbone Pl, W1T 1HX


restaurant

Club Mexicana

London, United Kingdom

Kingly Court might just be central London’s perfect al fresco
dining spot. We’re homing in on Club Mexicana, a vegan taqueria
inspired by eateries of Los Angeles and Mexico City. The concept,
which started as a pop-up, is proof (if you still need it) that
vegans don’t have to miss out on the good stuff. Feast on cult
favourites such as a sizzling vegan al pastor spit, tacos loaded up
with red-pepper queso, dill pickle and annatto mayo, and jackfruit
short-rib burritos, best washed down with the on-tap Paloma.

Address

Kingly Court, W1B 5PW

pantechnicon-roof-garden

restaurant

Roof Garden at Pantechnicon

Belgravia

Japanese meets Norwegian? That’s a pairing that we didn’t know
we needed in our lives until we discovered the four-floor
Pantechnicon. Tucked down a discreet passage in the heart of
Belgravia,this is so much more than a place to come and fill your
plate. Swing by the in-house boutique to gawk at first-class design
items, before slipping up a plant-clad staircase to the top-floor
open-air terrace: all wishbone chairs wrapped around round,
walnut-wood tables and earth-coloured walls. Arrive at 7pm, to
enjoy watching the sky turn candyfloss pink, then, over a big
serving of warm rye bread, served with a creamy butter paste, dive
straight into the starters menu. You might want to wear an
elasticated waistband for the mentaiko spaghetti – best enjoyed
with a side of mustard-drenched potatoes – and accompanied by a
buckthorn gin fizz cocktail.

Words by Georgina Groom

Address

19 Motcomb St, SW1X 8LB


restaurant

Bisushima

Charing Cross

Located on the sixth floor of the newly refurbished Page8 Hotel,
this spacious restaurant has made its name as London’s hottest
rooftop hangout. Designed with nature and wellness in mind, two
external roof terraces and a separate bar area overlook Trafalgar
Square. Unobstructed city views are a big draw, but the best part?
The authentic Japanese food. Order frivolously: we’d strongly
recommend the toro carpaccio, platefuls of freshly rolled nigiri
and a side of Roku gin-spiked cocktails.

Words by Georgina Groom

Address

8 St Martin’s Place, WC2N 4JH

This article was updated 25 April 2023 to add new
restaurants.

The Albion

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